Ch 179.
Jaylyn frowned as she sat in what had once been a bustling church, its windows now cracked. Since the integration, it felt more like an abandoned structure than a sanctuary. A handful of souls still clung to their faith, but they were a dwindling minority. It seemed that most of the devout, those who had filled the pews every Sunday, had crumbled under the weight of their shattered beliefs; from what she could gather, nearly a quarter of them had vanished, leaving behind empty spaces where hope once thrived. This loss was not merely tragic; it was staggering. The grim reality was that at least one in ten had perished, which meant the death rate among the faithful soared to two and a half times the average.
This harsh truth had severely undermined her plans, as she sought to portray Matt as a savior figure. Not in a strictly religious sense—she understood that would only complicate matters when people actually met him—but rather as a beacon of hope in these dark times. After months of tireless effort, she had finally managed to assemble a small congregation willing to listen to her vision, all thanks to Matt's actions that had inspired them. What better way to rally support than by spreading the word of a promised land? Yet, she couldn’t ignore the monumental challenge before her; trying to sell the idea of an island in the middle of an ocean teeming with monsters was hardly an easy task.
Even so, Jaelyn had cleverly reframed the concept into a promised land where those deemed worthy could gain the strength necessary to bring salvation to the masses. That was truly what Matt sought; he didn’t want timid sheep, but fierce lions. Yet, Jaelyn understood that she needed the sheep to follow along as well, for without the support of the many, the lions would eventually wander off. After all, what good was playing the hero if there was no one left to sing your praises? However, Jaelyn was also grappling with a few persistent headaches.
“There you are,” called out one of those headaches. “Please let me join the group you’re sending to seek out the dungeon.”
Louie Hunt was a decent enough sixteen-year-old boy, but he lacked a crucial element: bravery. Jaelyn had been astonished that he had even survived the integration, though she knew little about the trials he had faced to do so. By all accounts, he was a coward, often fleeing from the weakest of monsters, yet when the threat was absent, he claimed he would be a hero someday.
“Can’t you see that I am reflecting on the decisions before me?” Jaelyn asked, her tone carefully crafted to persuade. “Besides, I have already told you no.”
Since Matt had departed, Jaelyn had honed her persuasive skills and embarked on the path of a healer. She aspired to rise to a position akin to that of a cardinal or bishop, and she believed that persuasion and healing were the ideal abilities for such a role. Despite her efforts, however, nothing she did seemed to deter Louie from his relentless pursuit.
“That is why I am here,” Louie stated firmly, determination shining in his eyes. “I know that I am weak right now, but I can grow stronger, and when I do, I can protect others.”
“Why is this so important to you?” Jaelyn inquired, raising an eyebrow.
“Because I owe it to others,” he replied earnestly.
“Wouldn’t those others prefer that you live?” Jaelyn countered, her voice edged with frustration. “Look, you failed the simplest of tests; you froze up and ran away screaming when faced with a few weak monsters. If I allow you to go, then everyone who failed will be demanding that I send them.”
“Then send me as a bag carrier or something,” Louie argued passionately. “I just know that if I don’t reach the dungeon, then I might as well be dead already. As for the others I owe it to, they would be disappointed if I hid away and never grew, as that is the same as dying in our new world.”
Jaelyn hesitated, almost ready to relent, but then she decided to give him the wrong details for the meet up she had planned for those heading to the dungeon. Louie was an orphan; both of his parents had perished during their integration, yet he remained one of the few who clung to his faith in God. Jaelyn understood that he believed his parents awaited him in the afterlife, and he felt that if he didn’t lead a righteous life, he would never join them. He had even proclaimed to Jaelyn on multiple occasions that he would don the armor of God.
“Louie, you’re one of the purest souls I know,” Jaelyn said, shifting her approach. “Few can maintain their faith in these tumultuous times, and I see your desire to save many, but is that truly what you’ve been called to do?”
“What do you mean?” Louie asked, confusion flickering across his features.
“Where do your talents lie?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’ve heard of the parable of the talents, right?”
“Yes, we all need to use our abilities, big or small, for the good of others and the glory of God. That’s why I want to go to the dungeon.”
“Alright, then tell me what ability you possess that qualifies you for such a task. Remember, Matt will be there, and he isn’t someone who will tolerate those who lack the skills needed to grow stronger.”
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“I am willing; isn’t that enough?”
“Willingness is important, but it’s not sufficient. You must also have the ability. Tell me, what did you enjoy doing for fun before the integration?”
“Video games, YouTube, church activities. None of which exist anymore.”
“Why can’t church activities just become activities?” Jaelyn pressed. “Someone simply needs to take the initiative to organize them, and I bet plenty of people would be grateful for the chance to have some fun.”
Louie paused, deep in thought, and Jaelyn could see the gears turning in his mind, only for his next words to bring a frown to her face.
“But I don’t know how to do that.”
“Really!” Jaelyn exclaimed. “You want to rush off and battle monsters, yet because you don’t know how to organize some activities, you’d just throw in the towel? Louie, either figure it out or step aside, as I am not here to assist those who won’t help themselves.”
Louie’s expression shifted from determination to shock as he turned away from Jaelyn, his shoulders slumping in defeat. As he walked off, Jaelyn took a deep breath, called out a time after she planned to have departed, for him to come see them off before allowing the tension to seep from her body. Guilt began to creep in, wrapping around her thoughts like a vine; she had raised her voice at a boy who was simply desperate to prove himself. Yet, there was a strange sense of relief in the release of her frustration as she considered the potential consequences of him coming along. Regaining her composure, Jaelyn refocused her thoughts, striving to organize the chaos in her mind. She understood that it was crucial to send enough capable individuals to the dungeon, ensuring they had the strength and skills to navigate the dangers that lay ahead. Simultaneously, she needed to retain a solid group to protect those remaining under her care. A flicker of an idea crossed her mind—she wanted to propose that anyone wishing to venture to the dungeon should first demonstrate their resolve by reaching the port Apricity was constructing on their own. However, she quickly dismissed that notion as it missed the larger objective. The true aim was to identify those who were weak but possessed the potential for growth, ensuring that when they returned, they would have transformed into powerful allies with maximum impact.
Jaelyn intended to send out 50 individuals from the roughly 500 she was currently leading. However, she needed to orchestrate this in a way that would draw more people to her cause, enabling her to dispatch even larger groups in the future. The success of this plan hinged on the returning members; otherwise, the others would assume it was a one-way trip to certain doom. Even if they established a system for exchanging letters, Jaelyn understood that it wouldn’t suffice unless some returned, having grown stronger from their experiences. Yet, she couldn’t envision anyone who reached the island willingly undertaking the effort to return, nor did she believe those who were hesitant about venturing into the dungeon would take the risk. Thus, after much contemplation, Jaelyn found herself fixated on one viable solution.
Meanwhile, Louie felt a pang of hurt; he had only sought the opportunity to grow, yet Jaelyn had turned him away. A part of him yearned to join the departing group regardless of her objections, as he saw the world as a place filled with choices and freedom. In truth, he wasn’t entirely sure why he was following her, other than a nagging belief that she possessed a clearer vision of their path forward. If he were honest with himself, Louie might have acknowledged that he was searching for guidance, and the way Jaelyn spoke of Matt instilled a flicker of hope in him—if he could just meet Matt, perhaps everything would fall back into place. Yet, that seemed unlikely if he couldn’t even reach the island where the dungeon lay. Lost in his thoughts, he was startled when one of his few remaining connections called out to him, breaking the heavy silence that surrounded him.
“What’s going on, Louie?” Paige asked, her brow furrowed with concern. The daughter of his neighbors had been watching over him ever since his parents failed to return. “You look like someone kicked your puppy.”
“What would you say is my talent?” he replied, his voice heavy with resignation.
“Overestimating yourself and somehow overcoming the challenges you create,” she shot back with a teasing grin.
“You mean running away,” Louie retorted, his tone glum.
“Only when it’s monsters,” Paige countered, crossing her arms. “Don’t you remember that time you volunteered to clean my room so I could play?”
“We promised to never speak about that!” he protested, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his voice.
“See? But you got through it without even trying anything risky. Well, except for the running away part. Kind of like how you’re trying to escape right now.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, confusion flickering across his face.
“Louie, nothing you do can bring any of them back. It’s the same for everyone,” she said gently.
“I know that!” he snapped, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
Paige sighed and gazed up at the sky, her expression thoughtful. “I know you do, but you’re running from the memories that are still here. I can’t blame you, but there are also things worth holding onto.”
“Paige, my parents, my dog, and even the people who helped me become strong enough to survive are gone. It’s not that I don’t recognize what’s worth keeping; it’s that I know I don’t have the strength to hold onto them. What’s the point of trying if someone more powerful can just take it all away without anyone caring?”
“And you think this Matt cares?” she questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t know,” Louie admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “But if he’s really as strong as Jaelyn claims, then I need to meet him and learn how to become like him.”
“You should really stop believing everything she says,” Paige grumbled, skepticism lacing her words. “I mean, sure, healing magic exists now, but who actually takes on the wounds of others to heal them? And his ability to fight off multiple opponents armed only with daggers? Everything she says he can do seems impossible for someone below level 9, and what she claims he can currently do is even more outrageous.”
“That’s even more reason to meet him and see what he can do,” Louie insisted, determination creeping into his voice.
“Do you really think he would even give you the time of day?” Paige challenged, her eyes narrowing.
“People who think that never find out. How can I know unless I try?” he replied, a spark of defiance igniting within him.
“Fair enough, but how are we getting there?” she pressed, her tone shifting to one of practicality.
“What?” he blinked in surprise.
“Look, I think this Matt guy is either a fraud or just someone Jaelyn made up,” she stated bluntly.
“We all saw the notification about him forming an organization,” Louie argued, his conviction unwavering. “Surely that means he has to be real.”
“Okay, fine, he’s real. But who says he’s who she claims he is or that she truly speaks for him?”
Louie fell silent, unable to conjure a counterargument as Paige fixed him with a look that signaled he was about to be swept away by whatever wild idea she was concocting.
